EastEnders favourite Lacey Turner reportedly gets Stacey Slater return date - and it's soon

Eastenders star Lacey Turner is reportedly on her way back to Walford, with Stacey Slater returning for some special episodes. Lacey, who is currently on a break from the BBC soap, is also competing on this year's Strictly Come Dancing.

A report from The Sun's Hannah Hope on TikTok claims Turner will appear as a guest star in episodes that will air around New Years' before returning properly later in 2027.

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While Turner will be busy with Strictly over the next few months, the competition and Eastenders are filmed at the same location — London's Elstreet Studios.

Digital Spy has reached out to Eastenders for comment.

Stacey left Albert Square last October, swapping Walford for Brazil where her brother Sean has been living. Her exit came after the return of her former flame Max Branning and her cousin Zoe.

Last month it was confirmed that Rob Kazinsky will be back on Albert Square soon as Sean, marking the character's first full-time return in 17 years.

Speaking about Sean's big return, Eastenders executive producer Ben Wadey previously teased: "He’s arriving at an interesting point for that Slater clan, but he has connections all over the place.

"He saw Amy as his child briefly, and I think he still holds onto that a little bit, so he’s got those connections. Him and Max have somewhat of a chequered past, him and Jack also very complicated. So he’s one of those characters who can land back in the show and immediately have conflict or love with everyone."

Related: EastEnders to revisit controversial romance after tragic Zoe Slater death

Meanwhile Turner opened up earlier this week about why now was the right time for her to take on Strictly.

"I've always wanted to do it, but I've just never been brave enough," she said. "I've had a friend do it every year, so I know how hard it is. A lot of my friends are physically fit, and they have been exhausted.

"So, whilst I'm not working on EastEnders this year, I thought it might be a good time to do it because I'm not sure I am physically or mentally fit enough to do both jobs at the same time as well as run a household with three feral children!"

EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.

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